As the horserace aspect of this year’s presidential election ramps up, it’s interesting to look at the various scenarios of how each candidate can reach the magic number of 269 electoral votes. Wait! Astute readers are screaming: What a terrible error the newspaper just made — a candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win!

Who said anything about winning?

Much like NASCAR fans secretly root for wrecks, political and news junkies dream of an Electoral College tie.

It’s not as farfetched as you might think. Take this year. Let’s give President Obama: Ohio, New Mexico, Wisconsin, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. And let’s give Mitt Romney: Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Iowa, Nevada and Colorado.